Battery cell having an attachment structure and vehicle battery module

Abstract

In a longitudinal battery cell for a vehicle battery module, the battery cell includes a first end and an opposite second end with respect to a longitudinal axis of the battery cell, and a lateral surface extending from the first end to the second end. The battery cell includes an attachment structure extending in an outward direction from the lateral surface at the second end for coupling the battery cell to the battery module.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A vehicle battery module comprising: a plurality of longitudinal battery cells, the battery cells arranged in the battery module in parallel with respect to their longitudinal axes, each battery cell having a first end and an opposite second end with respect to the longitudinal axis and a lateral surface extending from the first end to the second end, and each battery cell including an attachment structure extending in an outward direction from the lateral surface at the second end; an alignment plate including a plurality of openings, each opening being adapted to receive and couple to the attachment structure of a corresponding battery cell of the plurality of battery cells; and a conductor plate adapted to electrically couple to the second ends of the battery cells, the conductor plate being arranged in parallel to the alignment plate and coupled to the alignment plate, wherein each opening of the alignment plate is dimensioned such that when the corresponding battery cell is mounted in the battery module, the corresponding battery cell protrudes through the opening in the longitudinal direction and the attachment structure of the corresponding battery cell is held between the alignment plate and the conductor plate, wherein the attachment structure is in direct contact with the conductor plate. 
     
     
       2. The vehicle battery module according to  claim 1 , wherein the opening includes a coupling structure adapted to couple to the attachment structure, the coupling structure including at least one of (a) a twist-lock, (b) a groove, (c) a snap fit, and (d) a screw thread. 
     
     
       3. The vehicle battery module according to  claim 1 , wherein a rim of each opening of the alignment plate includes an indentation on a face of the alignment plate facing the conductor plate, wherein the indentation forms in combination with the conductor plate a recess for receiving the attachment structure of the corresponding battery cell. 
     
     
       4. The vehicle battery module according to  claim 1 , further comprising a thermal conductive material layer sandwiched between the conductor plate and the alignment plate. 
     
     
       5. The vehicle battery module according to  claim 1 , wherein the conductor plate includes a plurality of openings, each opening being aligned with the second end of a corresponding battery cell. 
     
     
       6. The vehicle battery module according to  claim 5 , wherein at a rim of each of the openings of the conductor plate an indentation is provided, wherein a wire bond for electrically connecting the corresponding battery cell to the conductor plate is coupled to the indentation and the second end of the corresponding battery cell. 
     
     
       7. The vehicle battery module according to  claim 1 , further comprising a frame element including a plurality of holding structures, each holding structure being configured to receive the first end of a corresponding battery cell and to support the corresponding battery cell in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the battery cell.